TITLE OF POSITION: MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER
TITLE OF IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: DIRECTOR OF NURSING
JOB SUMMARY:
The Medical Social Worker is a qualified professional who provides medical social services to clients in their homes. These services are performed in accordance with physician orders and under the direction and supervision of the Director of Nursing or appropriate supervisor. Social work services are provided by a qualified Social Worker in accordance with the plan of treatment. Performs other duties as deemed necessary.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Assists in the admission process of the client to the Agency:
a. Performs an initial evaluation and assures appropriateness of Doctor’s orders as they pertain to client’s condition.
b. Assesses the client’s psychosocial status.
c. Evaluates the client, family member(s) and home situation to identify significant socioeconomic and emotional factors that will affect the plan of treatment.
2. Assists in development and implementation of the interdisciplinary client care plan as it pertains to medical social work.
3. Provides skilled medical social work services based on professional evaluation and assessment of the client’s potential to cope with social and health problems including short term individual counseling, community resource planning and crisis intervention:
a. Acts as consultant to the member of the health team to assist them in understanding social, emotional and environmental factors related to the client’s health problems.
b. Helps clients to utilize the resources of their families and community.
c. Provides rehabilitative and supportive casework.
d. Assists clients and their families with personal and environmental difficulties which predispose them toward illness or interfere with obtaining maximum benefits from medical care.
e. Involves client and family in the treatment plan.
4. Observes, records and reports changes in the client’s emotional and social factors that affect the client’s illness, need for care, response to treatment and adjustment to care of physicians and other members of the health team.
5. Consults with the attending physician concerning alteration of the plan of treatment.
6. Maintains and submits written clinical records as deemed by the Agency, to include:
a. Initial evaluation.
b. Care plan.
c. Daily notes.
7. Evaluates the client’s and family’s response to, and the effectiveness of, medical social work intervention.
8. Participates in discharge planning.
9. Confirms, on a weekly basis, the scheduling of visits with the Director of Nursing to coordinate necessary visits with other personnel.
10. Notifies Agency of absence due to illness, emergency leave, planned vacations, or special professional meetings which will affect agreed services with the Agency.
11. Participates in agency activities and committees when appropriate.
12. Participates in staff development activities and in-service education.
13. Assumes responsibility for self-development by continually striving to improve his/her Medical Social Worker practice through formal education, attendance at workshops and conferences, active participation in professional and related organizational meetings, and individual research and reading.
14. Supervises the social work assistant as indicated.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
Masters Degree from a School of Social Work approved by the Council of Social Work Education. Two (2) years experience with at least one (1) year of experience in a health care setting (hospital, clinic, rehabilitation center, etc.). Has, or is in the process of acquiring, certification from the Academy of Certified Social Workers.
JOB CONDITIONS:
The position requires the ability to drive extensively in a geographic area. Must be able to access clients’ homes which will not be routinely wheelchair accessible. Hearing, eyesight and physical dexterity must be sufficient to perform a physical assessment of the client’s condition and to perform and demonstrate client care. There must be the ability to give and receive information orally. On occasion, may be required to bend, stoop, reach and move client weight up to 250 pounds; lift and/or carry up to 30 pounds.
EQUIPMENT OPERATION:
Use of 10 line telephone, calculator and medical nursing equipment, i.e., glucometer, etc.
COMPANY INFORMATION:
Access to all client medical records which may be discussed with Director of Nursing, the Administrator, the Executive Director, and the Quality Assurance department staff, including medical records and outside government agencies.
